Orkney's oil

Peter Newsam suggests my comparison of academies' free school meal rates with the national average is invalid and we should use local comparisons instead to show that our intake includes significant numbers of disadvantaged pupils (Letters, October 23 and 25). At Capital City Academy, we have 35.4% in this category. For our local authority, Brent, the average is 22.6%.
Philip O'HearPrincipal, Capital City Academy

In response to Mary Honeyball (Letters, October 30) and the repeated use of the lazy formula "right-wing Catholics", may I point out that many left-wing religious people also object to abortion on human rights grounds.Cian MolloyWicklow, Ireland

So the fundamental plank in the SNP's grand plan for an independent Scotland is full control of North Sea oil and gas revenues (Let us control North sea oil - Salmond, October 29). Does Mr Salmond have a plan B in the event that Orkney and Shetland, in whose waters these coveted riches largely lie, should in turn seek independence from Scotland?Tom ElderWantage, Oxfordshire

It has been my life-long understanding that council tax has been in large part to pay for refuse collection by the local authority (Pay as you throw tax shelved, October 25). To suggest extra costs sounds like a backdoor increase. Or is our council tax going to be reduced?Brian RobinsonBrentwood, Essex

The new Freeview channel Dave (Is bloke TV dumbing up, October 29) may be respectable entertainment, but it has taken over the slot used by UK History, which we have been used to turning to as a last resort when there's nothing else on. Dave is no substitute.Ceridwen GeorgeIlford, Essex

As elderly but committed environmentalists we dutifully turn our thermostat down every time we are told to (Letters, October 30). We are currently shivering at seven degrees. Do you think it might be more helpful if someone could recommend a specific temperature?Peter and Vera HallAllestree, Derby